Burger 21 heading to Ballantyne Village

Burger 21, a new fast-casual burger company, will open its first Charlotte store in Ballantyne Village.

The company is owned by Front Burner Brands, the same company that runs the Melting Pot restaurants. In Charlotte, Burger 21 will be developed by Todd Dennis and Brian Neel, who operate two Melting Pot franchises in the area.

Burger 21 interior

"We also know Charlotte inside and out and believe people will be really excited about this unique concept with its incredibly diverse menu of hand-crafted burgers and more," said Neel, in a statement. There's no opening date set yet.

As previously reported, Burger 21 has been looking at Charlotte as one of its expansion markets as the company moves beyond Florida. Burger 21 also signed deals to open four restaurants in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, the company said.

The restaurant features a chef-inspired menu, as the company puts it, with 21 burgers. Half are beef, half are other things, such as tuna and turkey, and one a month rotates to a different special.

The Ballantyne Village shopping center has been doing better since the depths of the recession, with higher occupancy rates. But the property was still turned over to its lender recently, to cancel a $50 million loan the owner couldn't pay off.

Burger 21 said it's still seeking franchisees in North Carolina. If you'd like to learn more, click here.



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